Method of producing annuli



1941- E. s. CORNELL, JR 2,229,639

METHOD OF PRODUCING ANNULI Filed Oct. 22, 1938 TELEIE. T1? :1. E7

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INVENTOR Edward 5. Cornell, Jr:

5 VAT TORNEY Patented Jan. 28, 1941 UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE2,229,639 I METHOD or PRODUCING ANNULI Edward S. Cornell, J r.,Larchmont, N. Y.

Application October 22, 1938, Serial No. 236,461

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of producing annuli.

In particular, the method is directed to the production of an annulusfrom a relatively short length of strip material, and to the productionof annuli sequentially from a continuous length of strip material.

The method is especially advantageous for the production of solderannuli as used to considerable extent in the sweat jointing of copperpipe and fittings by the plumbing trade.

An object of the invention, therefore, is the production of an annulusfrom a relatively short strip of material of the nature of solder andthe production of annuli sequentially from a continuous length of stripmaterial of the nature of solder.

An object is to accomplish such production with -a minimum number ofoperations and with the assurance of desired predetermined confi urationfor the resulting product.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of an annulus produced pursuant tothe present method.

Fig. 2 represents a fragmentary top-plan view of a continuous length ofstrip material employed as the raw material of the method.

Fig. 3 represents a top plan view of a single relatively short length ofstrip material at an intermediate stage in the production of a singleannulus.

Fig. 4 represents a top plan view of the partly processed length of Fig.3 at a subsequent intermediate stage of processing.

Fig. 5 represents a top plan view of a completed annulus, the product ofthe present method.

Fig. 6 illustrates apparatus carrying out a step in the method whichconverts the strip material of Fig. 2 to the individual lengths of Fig.3.

Fig. '7 represents a vertical section taken on the line 'I'I, Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 illustrates apparatus carrying out the final step in the methodwhich converts the article of Fig. 4 to the finished product of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawing: the annulus indicated by the referencecharacter! in Figs. 1 and 5 represents the finished product resultingfrom the method here disclosed. It is formed from a material capable ofbeing worked and fused cold under the influence of pressure, and may be.a solder annulus or a gasket of material having essentially similarcharacteristics.

The present method contemplates the production of annuli sequentiallyfrom a continuous length of material of the stated type, usually a metalsuch as lead, or an alloy such as solder. It may be equally applied tothe production of a single annulus from a single relatively short blankof the ductile material. As will be noted from the drawing, the blank isof substantially uniform width and thickness throughout its length.

Where .a continuous length of strip is employed as the raw material, themethod may comprise generally the steps of severing individualre1atively short lengths from the continuous length while slitting eachof the so severed short lengths along its length to locations adjacentbut short of the ends thereof; expanding each of the so slit shortlengths to approximately the form of an annulus; and finally subjectingeach of the so slit short lengths to the action of pressure within anannular die to flow the irregularities into the desired annularconfiguration.

As will be noted from the drawing, the continuous length of strip issubstantially uniform, throughout its length. in width and thickness.Thus, the cubical contents of successive strip lengths of equal'lengthare equal.

Where single blanks are utilized, the same steps of slitting, expanding,and forming are applied to each blank.

According to preferred practice, a continuous length I I of the stripmaterial, see Figs. 2 and 6, is passed through a jig, as at I2, and theparticular portion of the strip being acted upon is firmly held therebyduring the severing and slitting operation.

The jig I2, see Figs. 6 and '7, preferably comprises a bed I3 providedwith a soft metal inlay strip I4 extending along the length of its uppersurface approximately centrally thereof.

The two clamp pieces I5 and I6 are adjustably secured, as by means ofscrews II, to the upper surface of the bed I3, falling short of meetingabove the inlay strip I4 by a short distance. The clamp pieces I5 and I6may each be rabbeted along the bottom edge of those lateral sidesthereof which are adjacent each other when the clamp pieces are inplace, see the rabbet grooves I5a and I Go, respectively, Fig. '7. Suchrabbet grooves I5a and I60 cooperate to form a receiving passage ofdimension such that the strip Il may slip easily therethrough whilebeing practically completely supported. The bed I3 may have an extensionI3a of reduced height, such extension carrying an abutment post I8adjacent its free end. A shear strip I9 may be secured, as by means ofscrews, to that end wall of bedI3 which 50 lies adjacent the extensionI30. The distance between shear strip I9 and abutment post I8 definesthe length of an individual length or blank III of the strip materialII.

A slitting and severing head 20 is provided for 55 cooperation with thejig I2 in the severing of individual lengths III from the continuousstrip II, and for, simultaneously therewith, slitting such individuallengths. The cutting head 20 may comprise a body portion 2| providedwith a 60.

handle 21a for afiording manual manipulation with respect to the jig l2.

A longitudinal blade 22 is afiixed in the body portion Zia, .as by meansof the set screws 23, and extends lengthwise substantially centrallythereof. A shear blade 24 is a'djusta'blysecured at one end of the bodyportion 21, as by means of screws 25. The shear blade preferably has acutting edge 24:: defined between two depending guards 24b and 240.

The clamp pieces l5 and it of the jig l2 are spaced suffic'iently farapart, see '26, to admit the longitudinal blade 22 easily in theslitting of the strip H and to, in efiect, provide a guideway therefor.Manipulation or" the head 20 relative to thejig I2 will effect severingof a predetermined and already slit length. l |-l of strip by means ofthe shear blade 24, and Wi ll, -simultaneously, slit a second length ofthe strip H which lies on the bed is. 'The slit'will be accuratelylocated because of the guideway 26 provided for the'longi'tud-inal blade22, and because of the firm holding of the strip on the bed It by theclamp pieces i5 and IS.

The intermediate product; i. e. the length or blank H-I, resulting fromthe slitting and severing operation, is illustrated per se in Fig, 3. Itwill be noted that theslit 2"! extends substantially centrallylongitudinally of the individual length or blank to locations adjacentbut short of the ends thereof. Preferably; as is clear from the drawing,particularly Fig. 3, the slit 2? extends to locations adjacent,but'substantially equally short of the ends thereof, thus providing endportions which are similar. The exact length of the slit 21 maybedetermined in the individual case by experiment. There should besufficient material left between the ends otthe slit and the ends of thelength to provide for adequate filling out of the annulus in thesubsequent forming operation. I

Thextwo longitudinal portions of the slit-blank l1-l of Fig. 3 .aresubjected'eto oppos-ite'outwardly directed forces,respectively,.to'produ'ce the approximate annularly configuratedintermediate product 28hr" Fig. 4. The forces may be applied manually orbyanyesuitable mechanical means.

' For completing ldrniationof the final product, indicated at iii inFigs. 1 and'5,.the intermediate product 28 of Fig. 4 is subjected toforming pressure within the enclosing confines of a die to flowirregularities of configuration into the symmetry of a perfect annulus.

As illustrated in Fig. .8, the die may comprise an open-mouthed diebox29 having an internal recess 30 in which a coil spring is mounted. Atapered mandrel, .32 is positioned substantially centrally'of the recess3i) and extends upwardly and out of the mouth of the die box' 33,defining, together-with the wallsof the die box, an annular formingchamber. The mandrel 32 is encircled by a plunger 33, nominally-held inraised position within the aforementioned forming chamber by the actionof .thespringSi. The mouth of the forming chamber may flare outwardly,as at 34, in providing a gradual approach for the rough intermediate pnoduct' ZSin-to the annular forming chamber proper.

The intermediate product 28 is I slipped over the snub nosed end 32a ofthe mandrel 32 and seats on the upper end of the'plungertil. A punch 35having a tubular end of annular configuration, similar to that of theplunger 33, is forced down over the mandrel 32, carrying theintermediate product 28 downwardly into the annular form-ing recess ofthe die. Thus, the intermediate product is subjected to forming pressuresubstantially uniform-1y about its periphery. Upon withdrawal of thepunch 35, the plunger 33 will rise by the upward urge of spring 3 Icarrying the completely formed annulus l 0, as the final product of thismethod, upwardly, out of the die, for removal for use or for storage.

Where a single pre-cut length of strip is used as the raw material inthe pro cess, the step of severing may be eliminated, but th'remainingsteps of the process remain the same.

Whereas this invention been described with respect to preferred practiceit is to be definitely understood that changes may be freely madetherein without depanting from the spirit of the invention as set forthherein and intheclaims that follow.

I claim:

1. A method of producing an annulus from a blank of material of then-ature of solder, said blank being substantially rectilinear and havingsubstantially uniform thickness and substantially uniformwidth'throughout its lengthywhioh comprises slitting the blank along itslength substantially centrally of its width to locations adjacent butsubstantially equally short of its ends, respectively; opening outthethus slit blank'into approximately annular form; and flowing themetal projections and irregularities of said approximate annular forminto substantially perfec't annular form by subjecting the thus-openedoutstrip to pressure within the enclosing confines of an annular die.

2. A method of producing 1 annuli of substantially uniform configurationand of substantially uniform cubical content substantially without wastefrom a material of the nature of, solder which comprises successivelysevering individual lengths of equal length from a continuous .strip ofsaid materia-Lsaid strip having substantially "uniform thickness andsubstantially uniform Width throughoutits length; slitting said lengthsof strip'along their'lengths-substantially centrally of their widths tolocations adjacent-t'but substantially equally short of theiren'dsprespectively; opening out the thus slit lengths to z'approximatelyannular form; and flowingthe metal projections and irregularities of.said approximate annular form into substantially perfect annular fom'nby subjecting the thus openedcut lengths to pressure withinthe-completely enclosingconfines of annular die means. 1

3.. A method of producing an annulus .fn'oni a. material of the natureof 'so-lderwhich' comprises preparing a substantially rectilinearblank-of said material, said blank having substantially'iuhiformthickness anduniform Width throughoutits length; slitting the saidblank? along its :length substantially centrally of its Width tolocations adjacent,- but substantially equally short 'of its ends,respectively; "opening out the thus sli-tf blank into rough andapproximate annularrfomnation; and pre'ssingthe thus :op'ened ou t blankalong a divergently tapered mandrel, in the I directionof itsdivergence, into-the enclosing confinesclan annular die by pressureexented substantially equally z'ibout theperipheryo-fsaid-blank and inthe direction cf m-ovement thereof for liowing the metal projections andirregularities of saidapproximate annular liorm'into'substantiallyperfect annular formation.

EDWARD s. CORNELL, JR.

